Young guns threaten Valentino Rossi’s record bid

Valentino Rossi believes the emergence of a new wave of hot young MotoGP talent will make it harder for him to beat Giacomo Agostini’s all-time winning record.

Italian legend Agostini won 122 races in one of the most celebrated careers in history, while reigning MotoGP world champion Rossi currently stands on 103 wins.

Rossi’s 2009 victory tally of six wins in 2009 was his lowest ever in a campaign where he has clinched the world championship crown.

Based on his ‘09 performance, Rossi would have to ride for at least another four years to beat Agostini’s victory record and the 30-year-old told MCN: “It is not only the level of the competition that makes it hard now, but also the number of competitors.

“Now Casey (Stoner) wins, Jorge (Lorenzo) wins and also Dani (Pedrosa). So it makes it harder for me to win as many races like I used to.”

Despite his lack of victories in 2009, Rossi added: “I won less races this year than last but I’m the rider that wins more races and that’s the most important thing.

“I scored the most pole positions and the most podiums, so it was not so bad.”